For Yogi Adityanath, results of local bodies polls will be a referendum on his eight-month rule in the state and it may also impact crucial Gujarat Assembly polls.
The BJP is leading in 14 of the 16 corporations, as the counting of votes for Uttar Pradesh Civic polls continues. According to trends so far show BJP is surging ahead in most municipal bodies with huge leads in Ayodhya-Faizabad and Kanpur.
Elections were held in 16 municipal corporations, 198 municipal councils, and 438 Nagar panchayats or Notified Area Councils. For the first time, all major political parties including the ruling BJP, Samajwadi Party, BSP and the Congress contested polls on their party symbols. The BSP contested local bodies polls on party symbols after 17 years.
Here are the Live Updates:
04:58 pm: Watch: 'Unka safaya ho gaya,' How CM Yogi slammed Congress without taking its name:
03:40 pm: BJP workers seen celebrating the bumper victory in Lucknow:
03:36 pm: Meanwhile, more results are coming in:
03:24 pm: In a sharp retort, CM Yogi also slammed those who were viewing the UP civic polls as precursor to Assembly elections in Gujarat
03:16 pm: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addresses media after massive victory. 'Thank you to the people of UP,' the Chief Minister said. He also congratulated the Election Commission for conducting the free and fair polls. He also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP Chief AMit Shah continue to inspire the government to do better.
03:03 pm: BJP wins Amethi Nagar Panchayat
03:02 pm: Gorakhpur: BJP's Maya Tripathi loses ward no 68, where Gorakhnath Temple is situated, to independent Nadira
11:37 am: Lathicharge by Police on crowd gathered outside counting centre in Muzaffarnagar. Four people injured.
11:27 am: In Varanasi, BJP is leading with 16,196 votes after five rounds of counting.
11:25 am: BJP and Congress both get 874 votes in Ward no.56 in Mathura. Winner to now be decided by a lucky draw, reports ANI.
11: 10 am: BJP Mayor candidate Sanyukta Bhatia leads in Lucknow
10:40 am: Congress, other parties were giving internal support to each other, We fought alone & we are now leading with a good number in early trends: Mahendra Nath Pandey, BJP UP chief
9:30 am : BJP Mayor candidate leading by over 1000 votes in Moradabad, BSP second, SP third and Congress fourth. BJP also leading in Pilibhit
9:15 am: BJP Mayor candidates leading in Meerut, Saharanpur, Lucknow, Ghaziabad andGorakhpur
8:50 am: Sanyukta Bhatia--BJP Lucknow Mayor candidate--is confident of her victory.
8:10 am
As many as 79,113 candidates are in fray. Generally, the Chief Ministers avoid campaigning for the ruling party candidates in local bodies polls but Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath made a whirlwind tour of the state holding more than 40 rallies in support of BJP candidates.
For Yogi Adityanath, results of local bodies polls will be a referendum on his eight-month rule in the state and it may also impact crucial Gujarat Assembly polls.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made at counting centers. Central Para Military Forces have been deployed in and around the centers.
CCTV cameras have been set up for close monitoring and arrangements made for web casting of the counting process. No procession is allowed during the counting and following the announcement of results. After 100 years, Lucknow will get its first woman mayor, as this time, the Lucknow mayoral seat has been reserved for women.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) left no stone unturned to ensure victory in all 652 urban local bodies across the state. The election is being seen as the first test for Yogi Adityanath's government in UP after coming to power with a massive mandate in the state this year.
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